Maria Wells

Maria Wells serves as a key procurement professional within the AAQ600 692M15 Acquisition & Grants unit of the Federal Aviation Administration, supporting the modernization of the national airspace system through the acquisition of mission-critical engineering, software, and technical services. She manages contracts that enable advancements in flight data analytics, air traffic management systems, and aerospace infrastructure design, ensuring the FAA’s operational resilience and safety objectives are met through timely, compliant, and technically rigorous procurement actions. Her portfolio centers on complex, high-stakes acquisitions requiring deep domain expertise in aviation systems and regulatory compliance. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Maria Wells cultivates partnerships with a diverse range of vendors specializing in engineering services, analytical instrumentation, and testing laboratories. She engages both large primes and specialized small businesses to deliver integrated solutions for aviation safety systems, often coordinating multi-disciplinary teams to meet stringent technical and certification requirements. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical validation, and lifecycle support for mission-critical systems. Maria Wells demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 88.9% of her acquisitions issued as unrestricted. However, she consistently allocates 11.1% of opportunities as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a deliberate commitment to expanding small business participation in high-technology aviation procurement. Her contracting patterns prioritize equitable access without mandating specific socioeconomic set-asides, aligning with broader FAA goals to broaden the supplier base while maintaining technical excellence. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Engineering Services (541330), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), and Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), underscoring her specialization in procuring precision instrumentation, systems integration, and validation services for aviation safety technologies. She frequently acquires advanced analytical tools, environmental monitoring equipment, and software platforms that enhance risk assessment and infrastructure modeling, reinforcing her technical expertise in aerospace systems procurement.